Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced the completion of the third enforcement operation conducted under the Cape May County SHIELD Task Force (Safety on Highways through Intensive Enforcement & Law Enforcement Deployment), a countywide initiative focused on reducing dangerous driving behaviors, preventing serious and fatal crashes, and improving roadway safety for residents and visitors.
The SHIELD Task Force was enacted by Prosecutor Sutherland in his capacity as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Cape May County. Through a formal Prosecutor’s Law Enforcement Directive, Prosecutor Sutherland established the countywide initiative and authorized participating law enforcement officers, while engaged in officially sanctioned SHIELD Task Force operations, to enforce the motor vehicle laws of the State of New Jersey outside of their normal municipal jurisdictions within the geographic boundaries of Cape May County.
This countywide authority allows participating agencies to work together under a unified enforcement strategy and deploy officers across jurisdictional boundaries to address identified highrisk roadways and locations where traffic data has demonstrated a heightened risk of serious and fatal crashes.
On August 8, 2026, the SHIELD Task Force conducted a coordinated traffic enforcement detail along several roadway corridors identified for increased enforcement. The detail covered Route 47 South from the George Redding Bridge to Route 9; Route 47 North from Reeds Beach Road to Indian Trail Road; and the entire length of Indian Trail Road. Officers representing eight (8) law enforcement agencies participated in the operation. During the detail, officers conducted 51 motor vehicle stops and issued 25 motor vehicle summonses. Additionally, Officers made 2 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
“The SHIELD Task Force continues to demonstrate the importance of bringing law enforcement agencies together to address roadway safety through coordinated, data-driven enforcement,” said Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland. “As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Cape May County, I established SHIELD to provide our law enforcement partners with a unified approach to traffic safety and the ability to strategically deploy personnel where they are needed most. Our goal is not simply to issue summonses. Our goal is to change dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and save lives.” Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association President Chief Dekon W. Fashaw Sr. highlighted the importance of the countywide partnership.
“The SHIELD Task Force represents a significant commitment to the safety and well-being of everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Cape May County. By bringing together our local, county, and state law enforcement partners under one unified mission, we are strengthening our collective ability to reduce dangerous driving behaviors through coordinated enforcement, public education,
and proactive community outreach. Together, we are committed to increasing public awareness, enhancing roadway safety, and ultimately saving lives on the streets and highways of Cape May County.”
The SHIELD Task Force is a countywide initiative led by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office in partnership with municipal police departments, the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. The initiative utilizes traffic crash data, enforcement information, and roadway trends to identify areas where targeted enforcement can have the greatest impact.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office thanks all of the participating law enforcement agencies and officers for their continued cooperation and commitment to keeping Cape May County’s roadways safe.
The third SHIELD operation continues a series of coordinated enforcement details conducted throughout Cape May County this summer. The initiative combines highly visible traffic enforcement with public education and community outreach aimed at reducing speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and other dangerous behaviors that contribute to serious and fatal crashes.
Additional SHIELD Task Force details will continue throughout Cape May County as part of the ongoing effort to protect residents, workers, and visitors and to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.